#EndSARS: NEC To Review Reports From State Panels

Reports of the various judicial panels set up by states to
resolve issues of police brutality are to be reviewed at a special
session by the National Economic Council (NEC), it was learnt on
Thursday.

The panels were constituted by the states and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) following the #EndSARS protests that rocked
state capitals and some major cities last year. The protests led to
loss of lives, destruction of private properties and public
infrastructure.

Vice President and Chairman of Council Yemi Osinbajo dropped the
hint of plans to appraise the reports during the monthly NEC
meeting.

The meeting, which held virtually, had in attendance governors,
top government officials and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Governor.

According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr.
Laolu Akande, some states have submitted their reports to the NEC,
adding that others were being awaited.

It reads: “The vice president at today’s meeting announced that
a special session of NEC will soon be convened to consider all the
reports that are ready from the judicial panels set up late last
year to address the concerns of the Nigerian people on police
brutality allegations and other related issues.

“That meeting would also consider the implementation of the
reports including remedies, redress and compensations.”

The Vice President also inaugurated the 29-member National Road
Safety Advisory Council, which he sits over as chairman.

He said: “Also at the meeting, Prof Osinbajo inaugurated the
National Road Safety Advisory Council as a demonstration of
government’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges of
road safety in the country.

“The Advisory Council is a critical aspect of the updated
National Road Safety Strategy adopted by NEC and approved by the
Federal Executive Council late last year.

“The Road Safety Advisory Council is chaired by Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo, with the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety
Corps (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi as Secretary. Other members of the
29-member Advisory Council include: Six governors representing the
six geo-political zones.”

Other committee members include governors Willy Obiano (Anambra)
representing the Southeast; Ifeanyi Okowa (State) representing the
Southsouth; Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) representing the
Southwest.

Other are: Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) representing the
Northeast; Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) representing Northwest and
Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq, (Kwara) representing the Northcentral;
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha;
ministers and the National Security Adviser (NSA).

The President, Association of Local Government of Nigeria
(ALGON); President, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce,
Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); President, Nigerian
Society of Engineers (NSE); and the Board Chairman, Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC), are also members.

The NEC also received a report from the Ministry of Petroleum
Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on
the issue of the terminated “Strategic Alliance Agreements” with
solution options.

“Deliberations on this will continue at another meeting of the
Council, it was resolved so as to give members the opportunity to
properly review and consider the presentation from the NNPC,” the
statement read.

The Council also received a presentation from the Minister of
Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development,
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, on the establishment of Sexual Assault
Referral Centres (SARCs) to address the problem of sexual and
gender-based violence.

She said the centres, which would operate as one-stop-shop, will
reduce the physical and mental health consequences of rape and
sexual assault by providing free, accessible, multi-agency,
forensically secured service for survivors.

The minister was quoted as telling the Council: “Sexual assault
can have a devastating impact on every aspect of survivor’s lives
which can make them vulnerable to further episodes of sexual abuse
or violence.

“There can be long-term physical and psychological impacts and
this includes post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety,
inability to sleep, etc.

“People who have experienced sexual assault have three main care
needs: medical care; psychosocial care and assistance; and support
from the criminal justice system.”

It further stated that the Minister of State for Budget and
National Planning gave the Council an update on the various
federation accounts, as at June 16, 2021.

According to him, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) stood at
$60,850,975.92; the Stabilisation Account was N24,802,716,416.22;
while the Development of Natural Resources Account stood at
N28,215,689,963.31.

Reports of the various judicial panels set up by states to
resolve issues of police brutality are to be reviewed at a special
session by the National Economic Council (NEC), it was learnt on
Thursday.

The panels were constituted by the states and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) following the #EndSARS protests that rocked
state capitals and some major cities last year. The protests led to
loss of lives, destruction of private properties and public
infrastructure.

Vice President and Chairman of Council Yemi Osinbajo dropped the
hint of plans to appraise the reports during the monthly NEC
meeting.

The meeting, which held virtually, had in attendance governors,
top government officials and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Governor.

According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr.
Laolu Akande, some states have submitted their reports to the NEC,
adding that others were being awaited.

It reads: “The vice president at today’s meeting announced that
a special session of NEC will soon be convened to consider all the
reports that are ready from the judicial panels set up late last
year to address the concerns of the Nigerian people on police
brutality allegations and other related issues.

“That meeting would also consider the implementation of the
reports including remedies, redress and compensations.”

The Vice President also inaugurated the 29-member National Road
Safety Advisory Council, which he sits over as chairman.

He said: “Also at the meeting, Prof Osinbajo inaugurated the
National Road Safety Advisory Council as a demonstration of
government’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges of
road safety in the country.

“The Advisory Council is a critical aspect of the updated
National Road Safety Strategy adopted by NEC and approved by the
Federal Executive Council late last year.

“The Road Safety Advisory Council is chaired by Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo, with the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety
Corps (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi as Secretary. Other members of the
29-member Advisory Council include: Six governors representing the
six geo-political zones.”

Other committee members include governors Willy Obiano (Anambra)
representing the Southeast; Ifeanyi Okowa (State) representing the
Southsouth; Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) representing the
Southwest.

Other are: Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) representing the
Northeast; Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) representing Northwest and
Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq, (Kwara) representing the Northcentral;
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha;
ministers and the National Security Adviser (NSA).

The President, Association of Local Government of Nigeria
(ALGON); President, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce,
Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); President, Nigerian
Society of Engineers (NSE); and the Board Chairman, Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC), are also members.

The NEC also received a report from the Ministry of Petroleum
Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on
the issue of the terminated “Strategic Alliance Agreements” with
solution options.

“Deliberations on this will continue at another meeting of the
Council, it was resolved so as to give members the opportunity to
properly review and consider the presentation from the NNPC,” the
statement read.

The Council also received a presentation from the Minister of
Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development,
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, on the establishment of Sexual Assault
Referral Centres (SARCs) to address the problem of sexual and
gender-based violence.

She said the centres, which would operate as one-stop-shop, will
reduce the physical and mental health consequences of rape and
sexual assault by providing free, accessible, multi-agency,
forensically secured service for survivors.

The minister was quoted as telling the Council: “Sexual assault
can have a devastating impact on every aspect of survivor’s lives
which can make them vulnerable to further episodes of sexual abuse
or violence.

“There can be long-term physical and psychological impacts and
this includes post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety,
inability to sleep, etc.

“People who have experienced sexual assault have three main care
needs: medical care; psychosocial care and assistance; and support
from the criminal justice system.”

It further stated that the Minister of State for Budget and
National Planning gave the Council an update on the various
federation accounts, as at June 16, 2021.

According to him, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) stood at
$60,850,975.92; the Stabilisation Account was N24,802,716,416.22;
while the Development of Natural Resources Account stood at
N28,215,689,963.31.